David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

What is the Minister of State's response is to the observations of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, which was strongly critical of this country? Reference has been made to the situation of Nonso Moujeke in Tullamore. This is an extraordinary thing. It showed the young people of Ireland, the children of Ireland, knew more than the Government of Ireland, because they roused themselves up and protested. The entire school of 600 or 700 young people stood up in defence of that young man who was not born in this country, and thank God they prevailed.

How does the Minister of State propose to address the issue of children and young people growing up undocumented in Ireland? Would he be open to more comprehensive legislation that introduces a permanent regularisation for all undocumented children and young people based on numbers of years at schooling in Ireland? In other European countries, as I have indicated, young people are regularised. Would the Minister of State consider a solution like this in Ireland? Could he outline a timeframe for dealing with this situation? How has he responded to the criticism from the United Nations committee?

This is an excellent Bill but it does not go far enough because it does not deal with the situation of people who are not born in this country, like Nonso Moujeke. This is something which we really need to deal with and the people of Ireland have already spoken with passion on this issue.